when were lyrics allowed in figure skating

Figure skating first broadly allowed lyrics in competition music starting with the 2014–2015 season, following an ISU rules change passed in 2012. Before that, only ice dance was allowed to use lyrics, beginning in the 1997–1998 season.

Key dates in one glance

• 1997–1998 season – Ice dance becomes the first discipline allowed to use music with lyrics.

• 2012 – The International Skating Union (ISU) votes to allow lyrics in singles and pairs, but postpones implementation until after the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

• 2014–2015 season – New rule officially comes into force; singles, pairs, and ice dance may all use lyrics.

• PyeongChang 2018 Olympics – First Winter Games where every figure skating discipline can skate to songs with lyrics (previous Olympics were lyric‑free except for ice dance).

How the rule used to work

For more than a century, ISU rules required instrumental music only for singles and pairs.

• Classical pieces like Swan Lake and Carmen dominated because they fit the rules and had clear dramatic arcs.

• Even wordless vocals could trigger deductions, so programs were carefully edited to stay within the no‑lyrics rule.

• Ice dance was the lone exception once it got the green light for lyrics in 1997–1998.

Why the change happened

The ISU’s decision in 2012 was partly about modernizing the sport and attracting younger audiences.

• Pop, rock, and film soundtracks made routines more relatable to casual viewers.

• Skaters gained more freedom to express character and story by interpreting sung words rather than only instrumental phrases.

• Commentators and former skaters have noted that it helped freshen up programs that had leaned heavily on a small canon of classical warhorses.

Impact you can see today

Since lyrics became allowed, major events—from Grand Prix series to World Championships and the Olympics—regularly feature programs set to mainstream tracks.

• PyeongChang 2018 showcased everything from pop and rock to movie soundtracks, marking a clear break from the all‑instrumental past.

• Skaters now mix genres (classical, hip‑hop, musical theater, etc.) within a single program, something essentially unheard of in earlier eras.

TL;DR: Lyrics have been allowed in all figure skating disciplines since the 2014–2015 season (first seen at the 2018 Olympics), with ice dance enjoying lyrics earlier, starting in 1997–1998.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.